Sea to Summit

Having the right gear on hand during an outdoor concert can be the difference between a weekend for the ages or an expensive lesson learned. These items cover the critical bases of comfort, connectivity, hygiene, peace of mind and style. Better yet, most are also made right here in America.

Whether you're a thrill seeker shopping for yourself, a worried parent trying to protect your baby, a best friend looking to help a buddy shred it up, or a tagalong seeking some extra comfort, the best thing about the gift of outdoor gear is that it serves all those purposes simultaneously. These are the best adventuring gifts money can buy.

A soft, supportive sleeping pad turns going-to-ground into camping and sleep into slumber. Sea to Summit’s Comfort Plus Insulated Sleeping Mat promises big comfort and insulation without sacrificing portability. We took one for a few nights under the stars to find out if it delivers.

Obsessive weight-trimmers with less than 10 pounds strapped to their backs are considered "ultralight" hikers, a term as ubiquitous and unregulated in the hiking retail market as "organic" and "grass fed" are in the food industry. But trust us: the following gear truly is ultralight, perfect for those faithful to the church of long trails and little gear.

We like to get our hands on new gear early, and short of theft and corporate espionage one of the best ways to do that is by checking out Outdoor Retailer, a biannual product show for retailers, manufacturers and other industry pros. We were on hand at the Winter Market 2014 show at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT, where every brand with a stake in the great outdoors showed off their future cold-weather wares. Of everything we touched, tasted and saw, this gear stood out most.

Nothing ruins a backpacking trip like a terrible night's sleep (or a lack of clean underwear, but if you can't figure that one out you're beyond our help). A good sleeping bag is the key to staying warm and dry when you're crashing under the stars -- so you're at your best crossing that next 8,000 foot mountain pass. Sleeping bag tech has made its way into the space age in the last few years: your 20-year-old bag from summer camp or the Boy Scouts is no longer up to snuff. Here's our list of the best 20°F (or below) bags to ensure comfort and safety for three-season camping.